By Jatindra Dash
BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Police arrested two Christians in Orissa on Monday in connection with the murder of a Hindu leader that sparked weeks of deadly
clashes, a killing which is also blamed on Maoist rebels.
The arrests were the first in the killing of Laxmanananda Saraswati in August, a Hindu proselytiser linked with India's main Hindu-nationalist opposition party.
The murder unleashed a wave of retaliatory attacks by Hindus on Christians in the rural Kandhamal district of Orissa -- leaving at least 35 people dead -- that has been a zone of Christian missionary activities for decades.
"We have arrested two people," Arun Kumar Ray, inspector general of police, told Reuters, adding that those held were Christians.
A police officer said the two had links with the Maoist rebels. Ray said a third person had been also detained.
The violence against Christians in Orissa was followed by similar attacks in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Hindu nationalists either share power or rule outright in all the three states.
Despite posting thousands of policemen, violence has continued, especially in Kandhamal where thousands of Christians now live in government camps because their homes are destroyed or they are too fearful to return.
Police have arrested about 1000 people, mostly Hindus, in connection with the attacks in Orissa. Hindu groups deny their involvement in the violence, which have been condemned by Pope Benedict. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called it a "national shame". Read
'Majority of Maoist supporters in Orissa are Christians'
'Majority of Maoist supporters in Orissa are Christians'
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Admitting that Maoist groups in Orissa derive major support from minority communities, a prominent Maoist leader has said there was reportedly pressure from both Christians and Dalits to eliminate VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.
Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil, who met a group of journalists at an undisclosed hideout on Saturday, said Saraswati was killed as he did not pay any heed to Maoist's warning. The transcript of Panda's meeting was made available to PTI on Sunday.
"We had asked Laxmanananda to desist from anti-Christian activities. He created a riot in December 2007 and subsequently targeted people indulging in cow slaughter," he said, adding people of both the communities were opposed to the seer. Noting that most of the cadre members and supporters in Orissa belonged to Christian community, Panda said, "It is a fact that Christians are in majority in our organisation. Our supporters in Orissa's Rayagada, Gajapati and Kandhamal also belonged to Christian community."
The Maoist leader, however, pointed out that though Christians were major support base of the outfit in Orissa, the situation was not similar across the country. "We do not believe in any religion or are attached to any religious groups. We are not in favour of any religion," he said claiming Laxamananda was working to revive Brahminism which was almost disappearing. read
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